In the mid-1980s, a periodical anthology magazine of black & white sequential art appeared on newsstands, in bookstores, drug stores, gas stations, etc.
That was a cool concept. It would be hard to pin down my favorite. Several of the one-and-done stories were great. Of the episodic stories, I loved 5th to the 1st, and the one set in postapocalyptic L.A. where there were machinegun nests at street intersections and the heroes had a technical—a classic convertible with a Browning .50 if memory serves. I have to look at them again.
I remember that! The MAD MAX movies were huge then and very influential. If I'm not mistaken I also believe SAVAGE TALES is where THE NAM first appeared.
They were similar but The ‘Nam was a comic book and never was part of Savage Tales. The way I’ve heard it, the popularity of 5th to the 1st served (perhaps inadvertently) as a proof-of-viability for The ‘Nam. And the same creative team had the first run on The ‘Nam. I liked both. I believe I have all the issues from the first two years of that comic, though they may have been destroyed in the same flood that ruined most of my Marvel titles.
It's been awhile but I remember now; the 5th to the 7th - written by an actual Vietnam veteran: Larry Hama. Who also lent verisimilitude to G.I. JOE as well (with fellow Vietnam veteran artist Herb Trimpe). It reminds me of the early HOWLING COMMANDO titles where the credits read "Written by Sergeant Stan Lee//Illustrated by Private Jack Kirby" reading that a couple of World War Two veterans were telling us the story of the HOWLING COMMANDOS lent some serious "cred" to those tales as well. 'The Nam was great. I remember one issue had a G.I. reading a Steranko NICK FURY: AGENT OF SHIELD . . . talk about meta!!!
Pulled out my issue #1. So your favorite was called “Skywarriors” written and drawn, evidently, by Herb Trimpe. The first episode of 5th to the 1st was Doug Murray and Michael Golden. Larry Hama may have worked on it later. I’m almost positive he worked on The ‘Nam. The postapocalyptic series I had in mind was called Blood & Gutz by Will Jungkuntz. The street machine was about a ‘56 Fairlane. BTW Lt. Young, narrating the 5th to the 1st story here, says, “We were no Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.”
WOW!!! Thanks! "Skywarriors!!!" I remember now. Doug Murray? Wow Again. I could have sworn it was Larry Hama. This is what age does . . .
I wonder if either Dough Murray (or Michael Golden) were in Vietnam as well?
Blood & Gutz! It's coming back to me now. I loved anything to do with post-apocalyptic car battles back then. I remember even Jonah Hex went from being a Western bounty hunter to a road warrior for awhile during that same era!
That's funny that Lt. Young didn't say, "We were no Sgt. Rock and Easy Company."
I appreciate the honest review - because with those names I’d get it automatically. I’ll probably get it anyway because I lack discipline.
LOL. I completely understand. I probably shouldn't admit that I own both Batman Forever and Batman & Robin on disk. And I'm not ashamed.
Really enjoyed this gritty dive into retro action comics! Your breakdown had me nodding along, especially about the pacing.
Thanks, Jon.
I LOVED Savage Tales. My favorite was a story written/drawn by Herb Trimpe of a group of post apocalyptic fliers. Too short-lived.
That was a cool concept. It would be hard to pin down my favorite. Several of the one-and-done stories were great. Of the episodic stories, I loved 5th to the 1st, and the one set in postapocalyptic L.A. where there were machinegun nests at street intersections and the heroes had a technical—a classic convertible with a Browning .50 if memory serves. I have to look at them again.
I remember that! The MAD MAX movies were huge then and very influential. If I'm not mistaken I also believe SAVAGE TALES is where THE NAM first appeared.
They were similar but The ‘Nam was a comic book and never was part of Savage Tales. The way I’ve heard it, the popularity of 5th to the 1st served (perhaps inadvertently) as a proof-of-viability for The ‘Nam. And the same creative team had the first run on The ‘Nam. I liked both. I believe I have all the issues from the first two years of that comic, though they may have been destroyed in the same flood that ruined most of my Marvel titles.
It's been awhile but I remember now; the 5th to the 7th - written by an actual Vietnam veteran: Larry Hama. Who also lent verisimilitude to G.I. JOE as well (with fellow Vietnam veteran artist Herb Trimpe). It reminds me of the early HOWLING COMMANDO titles where the credits read "Written by Sergeant Stan Lee//Illustrated by Private Jack Kirby" reading that a couple of World War Two veterans were telling us the story of the HOWLING COMMANDOS lent some serious "cred" to those tales as well. 'The Nam was great. I remember one issue had a G.I. reading a Steranko NICK FURY: AGENT OF SHIELD . . . talk about meta!!!
Pulled out my issue #1. So your favorite was called “Skywarriors” written and drawn, evidently, by Herb Trimpe. The first episode of 5th to the 1st was Doug Murray and Michael Golden. Larry Hama may have worked on it later. I’m almost positive he worked on The ‘Nam. The postapocalyptic series I had in mind was called Blood & Gutz by Will Jungkuntz. The street machine was about a ‘56 Fairlane. BTW Lt. Young, narrating the 5th to the 1st story here, says, “We were no Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.”
WOW!!! Thanks! "Skywarriors!!!" I remember now. Doug Murray? Wow Again. I could have sworn it was Larry Hama. This is what age does . . .
I wonder if either Dough Murray (or Michael Golden) were in Vietnam as well?
Blood & Gutz! It's coming back to me now. I loved anything to do with post-apocalyptic car battles back then. I remember even Jonah Hex went from being a Western bounty hunter to a road warrior for awhile during that same era!
That's funny that Lt. Young didn't say, "We were no Sgt. Rock and Easy Company."
As I said . . .
"META!!!"
I miss SAVAGE TALES.
It's too bad there weren't more spin-offs from SAVAGE TALES.
For sure. I’d back it if somebody with the rights decided to revive it.